Lions facing a blackout

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on September 16, 2009, 11:55 PM EST

The Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Last year, the Lions played the Vikings tough on two different occasions, losing by two points at the Metrodome (thanks to a horrible pass interference call) and losing by four points at home in December.

So, the addition of Brett Favre notwithstanding, Week Two could be one of the best chances that the Lions have to halt an 18-game losing streak before it ties the all-time record of 26.

Of course, it’s not the ideal marketing message. As evidenced by the fact that, a day before the 72-hour deadline, 4,000 seats are unsold, per Nicholas Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.

And so much for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft making his debut at Ford Field.

Regardless of whether the Lions sell enough to avoid a blackout for Week Two, wins will be critical to avoiding a string of non-sellouts in 2009.

Dammit Florio, I am tired of your Anti-Viking crap. To suggest that the Lions have a chance at defeating arguably the greatest team ever assembled is just bush league. No one will ever beat the Vikings and that’s a fact and you know it.

LION FANS ARE LAME!!!! OR BROKE. A CHANCE TO SEE ADRIAN PETERSON? ARE YOU KIDDING? SCREW BRETT FAVRE, THIS IS A CHANCE TO SEE A GREAT PLAYER IN HIS PRIME MATCH UP WITH THE HOME TEAM. C’MON PEOPLE, PAWN THAT GOLD CHAIN & HEAD DOWN TO FORD FIELD.

KIMWOO says:
September 16, 2009 11:38 PM
If the seats don’t sell out with the Vikes coming to town they don’t deserve a team!
LOL, coming from a Viking fan, that has to be the most ridiculous statement on here. The Vikings own fans can’t sell out the metrodome for the playoffs, so why would the Lion fans, with an 0-16 team want to sell out their stadium? Because the Vikes are in town? LOLOLOLOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH..maybe the Lion fans along with the rest of the NFL world are sick of the whole Vikings/Favre shit too and decide to just boycott the whole thing. Maybe the Lions fans just cannot not stomach the whole Favre in purple puke like everyone else. maybe this is just the beginning. Or maybe they just can’t afford it, being in Detroit right now cannot be a good thing. You Viking fans crack me up, you think everyone who hates on you is a Packers fan WRONG. You call the Packer fans hypocrytes for turning on Favre, when in reality, he turned on them. I cannot even imagine the hatred from you “fans” if Favre would’ve came back to say ..the Patriots. “oh but we didn’t hate Favre, we just hate the Packers”..yeah right..I lived in the Twin Cities for 6 years..what a joke. Then you come on here and bash the Lion fans for not selling out their stadium for a 0-16 team when you can’t for a playoff team..Please do us all a favor and shut the hell up until you actually win something without tampering and poison pilling other teams players. Please shut the hell up until you actually win a Superbowl in this decade, quit picking on the Lions and everyone else who share your pain of never having won a Superbowl.

OK, we’re talking about a team that went 0-16 last year, shows only modest signs of improving on that, and plays in a city that is home to the US auto industry, which is currently on federal government life support. Crappy team, crappy economic environment, and people wonder why people won’t pay $50+, plus parking, food and drinks for the “privilege” of spending their Sunday watching them play? I’m scratching my head that anyone WOULD spend their money and time this way.

Watch the game online for free at ATDHE.net it shows like any sport any game anytime LIVE. Really cool if you haven’t heard of it, I heard about it in the pre season so I’m excited whenever a game I want to watch is not on TV. It’s better than Sunday Ticket for crying out loud lmao! Quality could be better but for those who have PC hooked up to tv, I’m sure the quality would be excellent.

as an unvested(un-invested?) non-Lions fan, I pull for them. artieblanksucsbigD(artie blank has a better organization than u dallas honks, btw) is right, it’s tough to hammer d-town(even though they cause all their problems) in these “tough economic times”
Those people deserve some escape and here’s hoping the lions can win 4-5 games and be close in 5-6 to give it to them. God Bless D-Town.

# TFBuckFutter says: September 16, 2009 11:30 PM
Dammit Florio, I am tired of your Anti-Viking crap. To suggest that the Lions have a chance at defeating arguably the greatest team ever assembled is just bush league. No one will ever beat the Vikings and that’s a fact and you know it.
———————————————
Boy I hope that statement is sarcasm. The Vikings don’t even have the best team this season, much less this decade, or ever for that matter.
The dunce cap for you my friend.

I highly doubt they beat us. Unlike the past three-four years, we have stability at QB and Loadholt in place of Ryan Cook’s futility. EJ is healthy and we are deep as hell on defense.
The Lions are toast, it may be closer than it should be, but I don’t see them winning.

I love the NFL’s twisted logic…we’ll increase attendance by hindering the local citizen’s abilities to see their team in action and perhaps be intrigued and impressed enough by seeing what’s on TV to actually go to a game.
I understand it’s the league’s rights to do this, but considering how the league makes most of their money from contracted TV deals, you think think the NFL can afford to throw franchises a bone or two…this does nothing to increase revenues. It angers fans to the point of becoming apathetic of their team and could care less if their team threatens to move.
Essentially, continuing down this path turns the NFL into the NBA….franchises leaving cities they’ve been known to be in for decades to move to more “fertile grounds” and then leaving that city again after 5 years. I mean, how many times have the Hornets moved? How many NBA franchises have moved in the last 10 years?

bucc19 says: Blah, Blah, Blah.
Heard it before, you are no different than the rest of the fans of the game that like to bash football teams just to get a rise out of yourself. Watch the game and shut up. If that’s too hard, just take some duct tape and strap it across your mouth. Still not working? Staples are the way to go. (Or just move to very north Canada)
Seriously, this game is made to watch, not to go and b!tch about other teams because you had a bad day/week/year/life and your team lost.
Can’t wait for your response, oh wait, I can.

“MkePackFan says:
September 17, 2009 12:40 AM
Boy I hope that statement is sarcasm. The Vikings don’t even have the best team this season, much less this decade, or ever for that matter.”
That was indeed sarcasm. Sorry for being so subtle.

I like the Lions. Queens may be most over-rated team in the NFL and the Lions can’t lose forever.
A joke, the Queenies whining about the Lions not selling out. Betty Crocker always comes to the rescue for the Queens tickets. They can’t even sell out a playoff game.

You know…..I wish I didn’t live 3 hours from a NFL team who has a waiting list so long you need to put your great, great, great grandchildren on it (GB). That being said…..I’d rather be at the stadium no matter how my team does. There are two teams playing and it’s NFL for gods sake. In years past (GB poor team in 80’s) were able to get preseason tickets and an occasional season ticket. GB lost a lot but was able to see Earl Campbell…..what a joy. People in Detroit…support your team and this week a bonus…Adrian Peterson/Brett Farve. Can’t get any better.

Detroit may see more than this game blackd out. Jacksonville may not have a home game aired all season due to blackouts. The Bengals can’t sell out. Minnesota struggles to sell out their crappy stadium. San Diego is hit and miss. I’m sure there are others. The truth is, whether they want to admit it or not, football has outpriced itself for it’s core audience.

Lions fans have been supporting this bleeding monstrosity for wayyyy too long. I was a season ticket holder last year that refused to renew…..it was a complete joke!! And no $71 million QB will make me change my mind UNTIL they win….or at least come close hell they are not even doing that. I almost threw up at the Jacksonville game last year it was that bad!! What did they offer the ticket holders that went through last season?? Not a DAMN thing so if it blacks out then good maybe it will send a message to the idiots that run the place.

Hey bucc19, calm down, walk to the medicine cabinet, take your morning Ritalin, grab a dictionary to look up the word “sarcasm”, and then re-think your last post. Sheesh.
The Vikings sold out the playoff game big guy. Most Viking fans aren’t hyping Lord Favre or claiming Super Bowls — it’s the media. What do you want us to do, shut down ESPN for you? Sure, we haven’t won a Super Bowl. But at least we have a winning team, one with owners trying to win, and one that hasn’t set the NFL record for futility in a season. Who’s the one taking out their frustrations here?

milocoman is 100% on — why would we shell out our hard earned money to line WCF’s pocket with when he could give a shit less if he puts a winning team together?? NOOOOO more — when he either 1. sells the team or 2. dies then maybe we will have owners who want to win.
Seriously, 2 tickets plus ticketmaster fees and parking and etc etc will be about 200$ If it went to charity, fine….but not when it goes to WCF. We will hit him where it hurts, and I can still watch my team at home and support them there!

Hey bucc19, calm down, walk to the medicine cabinet, take your morning Ritalin, grab a dictionary to look up the word “sarcasm”, and then re-think your last post. Sheesh.
The Vikings sold out the playoff game big guy. I think study hall is over so you better get to class. I know what sarcasm means , but I also know what delusional means too. And yes “big guy” the Vikes did sell out their playoff game because the league extended the deadline, Jared Allen had to BEG fans to spend some ‘cashish” and lucky for them a few nice business’s bailed them out AGAIN..not the “loyal” or as ESPN 1000 Chicago calls them, the “biggest joke of a fan base, not just in the NFL, but all of sports” and Blahman, your right it is to cheer about your team, I was just pointing out how hypocritical you Vike fans are after ripping on Favre and the Packers for 16 years, you are on here defending his honor..FYI, he doesn’t give a shit about you fans ,it’s all about him,just like you all have been saying for 16 years. You defend him now, but if he did come back to someone other than the Vikings, you guys would have him canonized in hell already. As far as the Lions fans telling them to go see Brett favre. Why? Maybe 10 years ago, hell maybe 5 years ago, but now he’s just a washed up player on a second class team with third rate fans. Hey I’am just taking up the space and venom that missing on here since he is a Viking and not someone else..God forbid.

@ALL – Michigan was hit the worst with this economic crisis, not only ALL year, but especially right now. Even if things are looking up… they are not in Michigan.
Maybe we should all take a trip there and watch the Lions. Or maybe Minnesota fans should travel to the game…
Or Maybe the FORD FAMILY should buy the tickets and give them to charity.